Cargo-discharging apparatus



| MCMILLAN CARGO DISCHARGING APPARATUS Filed'Jan. 29, 1929 April 29, 1930.

Patented Apr. 29, 1939 A Ui'ia STATES LEVY MCMILLAN, 0F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA vCARGO-DiscHAiaGrive ArrAnATUs Application filed J'anuary'29p1929. Serial No. 335,871.

My -invention relatesy to 'improvements in cargo discharging apparatus, and the object .of the invention is to provide an apparatus particularly-adapted for the handling of coal and like commodities such as will occupy a minimum amount vof space vertically, thereby Vallowing for a. maximum cargo space, and which will provide for an unobstructed flow which will be easily controlled and in which there will be no danger of jamming, and it consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. l is a. cross sectional view through the hull of a vessel showing my discharge apparatus in place therein. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of my discharge apparatus showing two of the discharge members in the open or discharge position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through Fig. 2 on line 3 3. Y

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

1 indicates the hull of a vessel provided with a horizontal partition 2 forming ballast space in the bottom of the vessel. In this partition are formed channels 2X on which are mounted longitudinal conveyors 3. These conveyors are of ordinary type and are commonly used for the purpose described.

4 is a framework extending upwardly from the channels 2X, and 5 are'hoppers arranged preferably in pairs transversely of the vessel and extending in series longitudinally of the vessel as indicated in Fig. 2.

5x are the hopper mouths. At each side of each hopper mouth in the framework 4 are journalled vtransverse'V screwV spindles each comprising members 6 and 7 reversely threadedv one to the other and connected together centrally of the hopper mouth by means of a universal joint connection 8.

9 and 10 are discharge doors ext-ending parallelly in their normalposition beneath the hopper mouth, the meeting point between the doors being located centrally of the hopper mouth. Y

111 and l2 are nuts mounted upon the spindles 6 at each side of the hopper niouthcentrally of the door 9, and 13 and 14 are similarVv A nuts screwed upon the spindles ,7 also at each side of the hopper mouth and centrally of the doorlO. 5

Secured to the door 9are a pair of flanges l5 and 16 located at each side of the nut 11.

lsimilaiilanges being located at each side of the nuts 12, 13 and 14. The flanges 15 and 16 are provided with slotted openings 16x as indicated in Fig. 3 so as to permitof thef swinging movement of each door 9 and 10` about a pivotal centre of the nut 1l.

Each spindle 6 is provided at its inner end with a squared portion 6X. A

locatedl at the centre 17is a hand wheel'provided with a socket` 17X into which the squared end 6x oitV any spindle 6 is adapted to lit, thewheel 17 being removable from spindle to spindle 6 so as to operate any one desired. -By turning any one of the spindles 6, such spindle and the spindle 7 connected thereto by the universal joint 8V is turned so as to carry theV nuts 12 and 14 in an Bv this Vmeans a triangular opening is lett* beneath the hopper mouth so as to allow of coal or other commodity to feed therethrough gradually onto the centre of the belt conveyor 3 to becai'ried to the discharge hatchway iii the ordinary manner. l 18 isa plate which is pivotally mounted beneath one of the doors 9 or 10, suchplate being substantially triangular in shape` and adapted to close the narrow eud ot the triangular opening torrned between the doors 9 and 10 when they are in the open position, thereby preventing any choking of the ilow oil coal or other commodity in the narrow portionA of the opening. i When a certain iamount of the coal pressure has been relieved thespindles 6 and at the opposite ends of the doors are operated so as tov carry the corresponding ends of the doors9 and 10 outward into a parallel open position so as to give a freer-.passage for the' flow-of commodity therebetween.

' per inouthand meeting on the centre line of 'Vhen the doors are carried to the open par- Y' allel position the plate 18 is swung beneath the door upon which it is pivo'talli7 mounted so that thedischarge opening between the doors is increased to a maximum.

"From this description it will be seen that I have ,devised a device which will talie up a very smallve'rtical space so that'it willeii'ect the cargo capacity of the ship to aminiinum.

In devices wliiclihave hitherto been'used the vertical space occupied has been comparf Y ativelvv considerable, and therefore the cargo carrying capacity of the ship has been veryseriousljg7 aiiected. y Y

By my device this detriment is'entirely overcome, and: at the same-timejl'have devised Y a device in which there will he yVery little danthe hopper, and means ioi swinging either Vend of each door outward from the centre line Y in opposite directions to forma discharge opening beneath the hopper mouth. y

2. In a cargoedischarging apparatus for cargo boats,tlie combination with a discharge hopper located beneath the cargo space,of a

pair of doors located. directly beneath the hopper mouth and meeting on the centre line of the hopper, means for swinging one end of each door outward from the` centre line in' 'opposite directions to form azdiseharge opening; beneath the hopper mouth, anda closure plate mounted beiieatlirthe doors and adapted p to forni a removable closure for Athe narrow end of thedischarge-opening when the doors at one end are swung to the open position. 3. 1n a cargodischarging Yapparatus Yioi cargo boats, the combination with a discharge hopper located beneath the cargo space` oi' a pair ot doors located directly beneath the hopper mouth and meeting on the centre` line of the hopper, means manually operable from one vside ofthe hopper for swinging' one end vof each door outward in opposite directions to form a discharge opening bene-ath the hopper mouth, and a. closure plate mounted bemembers mouth and forming a closure therefor, means for pivotally mounting both ends of each i door, and means operated from one side of y the hopper for Vcarrying the pivot points of the door outward or inward to carry the door to an open ror closed position y either end thereof.

5; In a cargo discharging apparatus foi" cargo boats,'the combination with a discharge hopper located beneath the cargo space, of a framework carried beneath the hopper, a pair oifdoors located beneath the hopper mouth and forming a'fclosure therefor, a pair 0f spacedapart slotted flanges extending from the upper face ofeach door at eaoli side of the longitudinal centre thereof, threaded spindles mounted in the frame and extend-V ing through theslots ofthe door, eachorined by members Vhaving right and lett ,hand

threaded portions, a universal jointy connec- Y tion'conneeting the inner ends of the threaded together, and a nut-'mounted on the right and left hand threaded portion of each .member and located between the langesof the corresponding door. I Y

LEVY McMiiLLANfneath'thedoors and adapted to forni a remov- Vable closure for the narrow fend oi' the discharge opening when theV doors at oneend are swung to the'open position and adapted ,Y

to be removed from beneath the discharge opening lwhen the doors'are moved to a parallel kopen position.

- 4, In a cargo discharging vagiaiatus for l b ,j b Y cargo boats, the combination vwithja discharge hopper 'located beneath the eargospacaof a pair of doors locatedv beneath the lioppeir "framework .rc-arried beneath the hopper, 'a i vsoV 

